₦airaland Forum

People are shady & will always be. Greed & the desire for quick wealth is the driving force.

I'm yet to see a transaction with a car dealer and an agent come clean. It's almost impossible.

Damilare5882:
A very neat numbered Toyota corolla sport is for sale ..location : Ibadan ..serious buyer should please contact +2348132252615....thanks

2017 Corolla...are you alright?

GAZZUZZ:
thank you inception.


Here are my views as regards variable displacement compressors (automatic)

In the corrola 2007-11 south african spec, what I have noticed is between 70-100 thousand kilometers of use, the compressor fails.

On the kia/hyundai products bought brand new in nigeria, the compressor fails between 36-70,000 kilometers of use

for the particular car in question camry 07-12 I have seen a couple that were bought brand new fail before they hit 100,000kms.

For cars bought from cold climates like Canada their a/c systems tend to last much longer due to lack of use by the original owner and I have seen toyota camry @ 295,000 miles with stock AC parts.

The VDC compressor is new technology, but not very reliable.


Now here is the problem. The VDC compressor does not tolerate a contaminated system, and the strainer for the solenoid that operates the swash plate will get clogged very quickly and the compressor will shut down.


When a VDC compressor fails, if the system is clean, a replacement of the compressor and condenser should ordinarily fix the problem.

But when the system is dirty you will have serious issues, and more parts will have to be replaced. A replacement of the evaporator condenser, and compressor becomes necessary, with a proper flush of all pipes.


Most technicians prefers to work with parts that can be tested by hand before parting with money. As a result they frown at the VDC compressor because ordinarily it can only be tested when installed in a vehicle (VDC compressors can be tested on a bench with a motor and a belt to create torque)

Also the thought of bringing down the dashboard in most cases makes the technician embrace the manual fixed displacement compressor.

The manual. FDC compressor can tolerate a lot of dirt in a system for a long time without breaking down. I am presently working on a hilux made in 2014, at 98,000km (mechanical work) but I peaked into the a.c system, and on discharging a little gas from the high side, my fingers became very black. Note the a.c cools perfectly.

There is no way of knowing how long a compressor has been used by just looking at it, for the manual FDC blocking the discharge point while spinning the pulley could give a perception of the amount of compression one would get from a compressor.

Another issue with the VDC is no seller in the ladipo market will give you a guarantee on a used compressor. There is distrust between seller and buyer, seller always feels the technician would cut corners, while buyer feels he was sold a defective part, it does not always end well in most cases.

If your vehicle uses a VDC (automatic compressor) and it fails, have it at the back of your mind that a new replacement will be the best option, but it comes a pricey tag, the cheapest brand new VDC starts from 100k for the look alike chinko versions, and gets to about 250k for some OEMs.



So it's more of cut your coat according to your size.

If you can afford it and you are ready to do it the right way, go for the best/ OEM.

Hope this helps.

Gazzuzz

08033910382

Thanks a lot @Gazzuzz for this in depth analyses. But herein lies the problem; cost of the Variable Displacement Compressor.

But one question: is there anyway to keep the system from getting contaminated? At least, this will ensure we use it for a long time before replacement.

Another major concern is, with your in depth analyses, how many A/c technicians truly understand this? from the point of view of your explanation.

Frankly speaking, it's scary after your insight. I have seen a number of people who replaced the faulty VDC with the FDC and their aircon have not been the same.

diportivo:
Make I park my 1983 vw Santana here

And lesen from the ogas dem

Very funny indeed!

From research, I observe that most A/c technicians resort to converting the automatic compressor that comes with the 2007 upwards Toyota Camry. When the A/c compressor that comes with these models of Camry is faulty, the owner is advised to buy the manual compresssor.

The manual compressor works differently from the automatic one. The Auto compressor is more effective and stable during load conditions. However, the argument is that the manual compressor can be repaired in an event of a break down.

I strongly believe that most of these technicians are quacks or are lazy to study how the auto-compressor operates.

Again, from experience and observation, experience mechanics can tell when a compressor has been converted. For instance, when I was in the market for a 2011/2012 Camry, I inspected a 2012 Camry for which Gazzuzz was to do a PPI for me but when I described the behaviour of the car when you turn on the air conditioner of the car, he simply told me to walk away from that deal. I probed further to find out that they had converted the auto compressor to manual.

For people like Gazzuzz & all those who has first hand experience with this sort of conversion, especially car owners; please come in and comment.

Personally, I'm averse to conversions and I run away from mechanics who suggest such.

Valvin:
Gurus in the house, pls help...I have been having this argument with a friend about the right place to pour the radiator coolant in my car...He said the right place is the reservoir tank while I told him its the main radiator.. Pls experience guys should come in and comment because am about pouring the coolant I bought on the main radiator but am confused since my friend said its the reservoir tank.... Note:Am a new car owner and not yet experienced on issues like this....

It's important you provide us with car model & make. However, coolant is supposed to be poured into the expansion tank (Reservior tank) usually written coolant.

One main function of the coolant is to cool the engine when the engine has properly warmed up & operating at its peak, the thermostat opens to allow coolant into the engine and returns to the expansion thank. This process is enabled by the ECU for most vehicles. So if you pour it directly to the radiator coolant, you be limiting this function and your car will take a longer time to warm.

derbylicious:
Hi everyone

I am torn between a corrolla, camry and an avalon.

Honestly, the avalon has all the features I desire but I am being a bit sceptical about its maintenance as I understand it is on the high side.

Now, opinions based on actual experiences are needed...which of the trio would be most suitable for driving on our "unique" kind of roads as this would be used to commute daily(45mins drive~one way, i.e 90mins to&fro)

Also base thy opinions on fuel economy and ease of maintenance...i'd be reading comments(the purchase is going to be ASAP so SOS please!!!)

There will also be varied opinions when seeking public knowledge on a subject matter.

Among the lots, the Corolla has the least fuel consumption ratio because of the engine setup of 1.6l to 2.0l. The parts are also cheaper but with the recent fx scarcity has caused a geometric increase in parts generally albeit increase in demand for the Corolla locally, which ultimately pushes the price of spare parts & purchase to almost at par with the Camry. But in terms of fuel consumption, the Corolla achieves a better mpg but heavily dependent on your driving pattern, maintenance culture and keeping the car as close to the factory settings as possible. In addition, if you are single and don't move much luggage, the Corolla may be your choice.


The Camry is a much bigger car to the Corolla. So also is the maintenance. With a 2.4l engine, you spend a bit more on fueling but when traveling, you get compensated for space. There's also the 6cyl version of the Camry & I can safely assume you are not referring to that.

On the other hand, the Avalon comes only in 6cyl 3.0l engine. Better performance, drive experience and handling but you pay for it. Costlier to run among the others.

One interesting fact about them is they are all durable and reliable with the right maintenance and adherence to genuine spare parts or OEM. I personally believe that all cars will attract thieves if you are careless with them. Granted some are more attractive than others but hey! The nature of our society requires you stay within a comfort zone of spare parts availability, mechanic and some DIYs options when the need arises.

Finally, we can only make suggestions based on personal experiences but the onus of choice is strictly upon you. Whatever you want to buy, a vin report is absolutely essential to a happy motoring.

Good luck with your choice and remember to update us.

The ford galaxy will be a lot more exonomical owing to the fact that this year model has a 1.9l turbo inline 4 engine. It also comes with a Diesel engine. Spare parts and mechanics may be your bane. Take off is sluggish.

The Sharon is used by so many transporters & comes only in 4 cylinder. Maintenance may be at par with the ford galaxy with parts more readily available.

The Sienna will be a different proposition as it comes in 6 cylinder engine and spare parts will be pricey when compared with the 2 above. Consequently, it offers a drive experience both at take off & over taking. Fuel consumption will also be higher with parts and mechanics abundantly available. Sienna is an extremely reliable van as well as durable if proper care is maintained. It equally offers a better resale value when u feel it's time for a replacement. Besides cost of maintenance and initial cost of acquisition, resale value is a huge consideration when planning to buy a vehicle.

Tadeus:
Budget 1.9m - 2m for matrix

Budget 1.9m for Camry

Contact

08035142036, 08056807475


Tadeus

I thought Cotonue border is closed?

Alexkene:
I am about to sell my car to someone I met on Nairaland, and they said they want copies of my car papers including custom papers to verify if they are original. Is it safe to give out photocopies of these documents to an intending buyer ? Please advise

Ask them what they intend to do with it, then follow them to which ever office to ensure that actual verification is done and nothing else.

Your fears aren't misplaced with the current situation of things in Nigeria, people have become more desperate.

ogawisdom:
Do I really need to reply u

Anyway Jst note dt u r a pathological idio.t

Bruh,

I think ur banter here is absolutely unnecessary and says a lot about your age and background.

There's no reason to enquire about how much he has, having listed cars within his budget. You should offer advise based the information provided. No real reason to abuse anyone.

Kingreign already provided you with the best route. I doubt you will miss your way but ask questions when in doubt.

The best experience for this trip happens when you drive. Your car becomes handy for you in Abuja. More so, you leave at your own time. If you have driven a long haul before, then this shouldn't be a big deal. Leave early and not that the stretch from Lagos to Ibadan is still under construction. From Iwo road junction to Akure is a very long stretch with dangerous potholes. So your speed must be within limits. Akure to Ibilo is another stretch of road with a deplorable state; laden with craters, potholes and any bad road conditions you can imagine. If you leave Lagos at 5.00am or 6.00am, you should be in Abuja by 5.00 - 6.00pm same day except there's a major delay.

It is usually better to embark on this journey alone if you have no one to accompany you in the car, I usually advise against stopping to pict passengers. You don't know who you may pick. I have driven on this route alone over 12 times. You will also encounter many chech points as well as police but if you are driving alone, they mostly won't disturb you. Ensure your license and vehicle papers are intact.

Feel free to ask for further clarifications. Safe trip when you leave.

Lexusgs430:
I change my air filters with every service performed. A country like Nigeria that is very very dusty, an air filter change is advised every 3 months.
Do not also forget to replace the cabin filters also.....

It's almost a waste of money replacing your air filter every 3 months. Do you drive in the desert? Except perhaps, you implied cleaning...

I clean mine at every service interval and replace when it's due.

sashx:
Hello House,
At the verge of making a decision . Please which is better in terms of cost of maintenance and the likelyhood of breakdown due to the nature of Nigerian roads btw Toyota Camry 2014 and Lexus OS 250 2010-2013.
Assist a bro please experts in the house.
Thank you

The two cars have different target markets. The IS is a luxury model while Cary is just a family sedan. You can't also compare both cars in that Lexus IS is a RWD while Camry is a FWD. Lexus Is comes in V6 engines while the Camry has an i4 cylinder version. It's not an apple to apple comparison.

In terms of running cost, the Camry will be cheaper to run even the V6. The lexus is250 is turned towards sporty drive and will ordinarily consume more fuel than the Camry. Lexus is250 spare parts will be more expensive because is a luxury car.

On the flip side of the story, the Lexus IS250 gives you a better drive experience in terms of performance, aesthetics, comfort and prestige.

Finally, both cars are durable and reliable with a good maintenance culture. If you won't stick to the recommended engine oil and fluids as well as OEM parts, please stay away from any of those cars.

adeblow:
The last two times I went to the mechanic workshop, I saw two cars: both peugeot 406 to be specific and i was told that the timing belt cut off while they were driving.

The second time I went, i saw another peugeot 406 and it was the same timing belt problem.
And to fix the problem, the mechanic have had to dismantle the engine and reset the valves, which took them about three to four hours plus some work on the engine.

So the question is how often should one change timing belt to avoid this problem.

Depending on your car make and model. Different car manufacturers have recommended mileage for timing belt replacement. For instance, Toyota Sienna 2004/2005 on the 3mz fe engine recommends timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles. But again, you may not go wrong with what @Gazzuzz has recommended provided you purchase a genuine one.

BamiAutos:
Cotonou car market open tomorrow Monday til Friday again make your enquiries


Call 08034018886

08172395318

BAMIDELE autos

It is well wit you.

With the closure on land borders?

diportivo:
Don't just pass by na

Go and park it on a lonely street





Thank God for insurance

Lol! Why does he have to park the vehicle on a lonely street?

We need to realise that any car can be stolen irrespective of the brand & model. If you are careless with yours, of course, the inevitable almost always happens.

In my years of car ownership, I can't park where I'm uncomfortable. This has always guided me. I will rather go back home when I can't find a secure place to park. A lot of people are just too carefree including with maintenance.

If fuel consumption is a major consideration, then 4cyl Hyundai ix35 should be your choice. Availability of spare parts may be a major constraint.

The RX330 only comes in 3.3l 3mz fe 6cyl engine. It's awesome in performance in addition to the pushy interior with a premium quality leather interior. Parts are readily available but expensive.

It won't be an apple to apple comparison. The rx also commands more prestige. It also offers a better resale value than the Hyundai.

You won't go wrong with the rx though.

buchilino:
I HAVE NOTICED DAT MANY R PUTTING UP DER RX LEXUS 4 SALE. IS DER SOMETHING DEY R NOT TELLING US.

Nothing is wrong with RX330 or RX350. It's an awesome vehicle to own and drive. However, the spare parts are expensive and fuel consumption is slightly above normal. What do u expect from a 3.3l 3MZ FE engine?

It's important you carry out a pre-Purchase Inspection before buying any.

ameristu:
From my calculations for every 34km the camry would use 1 liter of petrol more than the corolla. That is not too bad although it would be significant if the number of miles is more.

Realistically, u may never achieve that level of mpg in Nigeria. Those figures can easily be attained in Europe, America & Asia where driving conditions and roads are good. A number of factors affect mpg; the quality of fuel, vehicle condition and good roads. To achieve a relatively high mpg close to factory set up, you need to drive on a constant speed of about 120km/h or less for several miles. There's no roads in Nigeria that you can drive for an hour without using your brakes excessively.

Whereas elsewhere in the world with good road conditions, you can drive for thousands of miles while using the cruise control probably set at 100km/h.

ameristu:
Many thanks @billy187, from my understanding the 2009 camry is just as fuel efficient and the difference is not much. Can this be confirmed?

If your reason for purchase is to be used on Uber, Corolla is your best bet. The two cars are miles apart in terms of fuel consumption. The Camry is a 2.4l 2az-fe while the Corolla starts with 1.6l to 2.0l engine. On Uber, Corolla has a better fuel economy. The difference in fuel consumption of both cars could be as high as ₦10,000 to ₦15,000 weekly.

Also, the Corolla is lighter and compact. If buying for family use, then Camry is the choice.

Zoharariel:
Two car brands I can never buy with my money or accept even as gifts (I will immediately put it on sale).
1.) All Toyota Models
2.) All Honda Models
As moths are drawn to a flame, so are armed-robbers drawn to these overrated cars.
If you've ever driven a Bmw or Benz, you won't ever want to drive any other car again.
@OP - May the irunmoles console you for your loss.
PS: Toyota & Honda fans, no offense intended.

I don't understand how this relates to the stolen car. A Benz was reportedly stolen in Wuse 2 recently. Any car can be stolen if it's targeted.

May God help the owner to recover the car.

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2t1br32e76c599423.

Thanks.

Thanks a million.

Please run a vin check on this 2T1BR30E27C810872.

Thank you.

Is it a clean tittle or salvage? Is it also a 4 or 6 cylinder?

Sold

kingreign:
Correct! I support this whole heatedly.
As a technician, I no advice person to price wetin he no see make e no go buy carton.

Apt.